The Best of Times, The Worst of Times (Part 3)

Best Kept Secret of 2008:
Sun Kil Moon - April

Whether it's his "solo" releases or his albums under the moniker Sun Kil Moon, Mark Kozelek continues to astonish. This year, he released the second SKM of completely original material on April Fools Day. The album title? April, of course. This is some of the best songwriting I've ever heard. So much so that it boggles the mind that this guy isn't getting more mainstream press or getting headlining stints at bigger venues. Which I guess works out for the people who are crazy about him. If you've never heard of him, you've probably seen him in a movie or two. He plays the quiet bass player in Almost Famous, as well as the mentor to Jason Schwartzman's character in Shopgirl.

Worst Kept Secret of 2008:
Vampire Weekend - Self-Titled

I've got absolutely nothing against this band. I really loved their debut album, but I will go on the record to say that Vampire Weekend has had the easiest path to success in the history of music. As already mentioned, VW was the first band to grace the cover of Spin without releasing any material. I'm pretty sure they played SNL before their album even charted. Before you knew it they had songs in movies, commercials, and video games. By year's end they played not one, not two, but THREE sold out shows at New York's Terminal 5. At this rate, I have a good feeling they'll get their first Garden show in 2009.

And for the record, yes, it is pure coincidence that the year's best and worst kept secrets just happen to feature what appears to be camera mistakes at unsuspecting chandeliers. Oh the hilarity.

Best Live Album of 2008:
The Clash - Live At Shea Stadium


It's only appropriate that The Clash finally released this legendary set the week after the Mets played their final game at their home stadium. I have a soft spot in my heart for this album because it was recorded at a place where I had experienced so many fond memories (oddly enough, the album was recorded two months before I was born). I couldn't think of a better venue/band pairing if I tried. Shea Stadium and The Clash are one in the same: both were never the sexiest or best at what they did, but they both MATTERED. And now, like the band, the stadium is now just a part of history. Probably for the best.

Worst Live Album of 2008:
Fall Out Boy - **** Live In Phoenix

Alright, first thing's first. I like Fall Out Boy more than I should. There, it's out there. Hey, if Elvis Costello is a fan, these guys gotta be doing something right. Their new album (Folie A Deux) is actually incredible. The live show, on the other hand, needs work. They should have mabye considered this before releasing a live CD/DVD this year. Thanks for the memories, but you really shouldn't have.

Best EP of 2008:
The Avett Brothers - The Gleam II

I've noticed an proliferation of EP's this year. I don't know if this is a new thing, but artists big and small (Coldplay, Cat Power, Fleet Foxes) have been releasing these babies like wildfire. That being said, I need to give the award to the Avett Brothers simply because theirs best exemplifies what an EP is intended to do: showcase a good sampling of a relatively unknown artist. The Gleam II is a perfect little folk concoction that gets the job done in under 20 minutes. Looks like it worked. Supposedly this brother act is opening up for Dave Matthews Band on its upcoming spring tour.

Worst EP of 2008:
The National - The Virgina EP

This unfortunate distinction is by no means a reflection of The National itself. Boxer is one of the best albums of the decade, and this band has one of the more promising careers in the indie rock realm. However, this supposed EP (which breaks all EP rules) is nothing more than a compilation of demos, b-sides and live tracks. To me, this is all pretty unnecessary at this point. Sorry, guys.

Weekend Hype

The year's most overexposed indie band, Vampire Weekend, are returning home to play what is likely their largest local show to date. If you still don't know who this band is, a) you live under a rock and b) you haven't seen one of the 1,000 movies/commercials/TV shows their song "A-Punk" has been featured in. The guys will be playing Terminal 5 on December 3rd. Tickets are $25 and go on sale Friday at noon. No word on openers just yet, but still definitely worth checking out.

The List (Part 2)

For those of you keeping track, this is Part 2 (of 10) of my top records since 2000 (Part 1 HERE). Enjoy, and have a happy 4th.

90) Band of Horses - Cease To Begin (2007)
Often referred to as the poor man's My Morning Jacket, it's actually been a much smoother ride into the spotlight for these guys than for Jim James and gang. After receiving a ton of praise for their 2006 self-titled Sup Pop debut, a lot was expected for their follow-up. Let's just say that they lived up to the hype -- and even charted #35 on the Billboard 200 with 21,000 copies sold in the first week. "There Is A Ghost" is one of 2007's best singles, so definitely give it a shot. And hey, any band that dedicates a song to Detlef Schrempf gets the seal of approval in my book.


89) Les Savy Fav - Let's Stay Friends (2007)
These indie-art rockers are one of the most entertaining live bands on the circuit. Follicly challenged singer Tim Harrington will often strip down to his skivvies (or worse), kiss audience members during songs, and sporadically change clothes mid-set. Let's Stay Friends was the band's first release in six years and was on nearly every critic's top 10 list last year (an 87 on Metacritic ain't bad). Les Savy Fav played a legendary 3 AM post-New Year's Eve show at the Bowery Ballroom this year which was recently released as a live album called After The Balls Drop. You can download the single "The Equestrian" (as well as a slew of other tracks) for free right HERE.


88) Pete Yorn - Musicforthemorningafter (2001)
I gotta show some Jersey love on this list. Musicforthemorningafter is a great debut by one of the more talented (and underheralded) singer-songwriters of the decade. Yorn originally got some exposure with his song "Strange Condition" in the Jim Carrey cult classic Me, Myself, and Irene, which led to some mild radio success with "For Nancy (Cuz It Already Is)," and "Life On A Chain." Pete's second album, Day I Forgot, went largely unappreciated despite containing quite a few gems. But do stay away from Nightcrawler if you know what's good for you.


87) Ryan Adams - Rock 'n Roll (2003)
This might be the first (of many) controversial picks. But guess what, it's my list so I can choose whatever I want. I remember Pitchfork panning Ryan Adams' first foray out of the alt-country realm. But you know what, some of these songs are pretty damn good despite what the critics had to say. The awfully U2-sounding first single, "So Alive," is as catchy at it is crunchy. Adams' ingenius songwriting goes unnoticed on some of the more confessional work of his catalog (see the title track, and "Anybody Wanna Take Me Home"). It's evident that this album was purely experimental -- a memo that many naysayers must have failed to see. Just a warning: (much) more Ryan to come.


86) Vampire Weekend - Vampire Weekend (2008)
We'll see if this band stands the test of time. Vampire Weekend's early success is clearly the product of the indie blog hypemachine. I think these guys hold the record for "least deserving band to appear on Saturday Night Live," as they had barely even charted before reaching the precious nationally-televised show circuit. Fun fact: they were the first band to grace the cover for Spin before actually releasing an album. But I gotta give it to them, they do give us one hell of Paul Simony debut.


85) The Get Up Kids - On A Wire (2002)
It's unfortunate that The Get Up Kids got branded with that infamous "emo" scarlet letter. It really is unfathmable to me that these guys will be considered more in the ranks of Fall Out Boy than Nada Surf or Superchunk. And I am purposely selecting their least-known record specifically because its poor sales, yet great content pretty much sum up this band's career. Depite the whiny voice, Matt Pryor has a pen as skilled as they come, and this is shown on tunes like "Hannah Hold On," and "Overdue." The Get Up Kids disbanded in '05, but Pryor is still active with his side project The New Amsterdams.


84) Jesse Malin - The Fine Art of Self-Destruction (2003)
The solo debut from the lead singer of defunct New York thrash band D Generation, Fine Art is a complete 180 from the brash punk of Malin's 90's career. I can't think of an album that professes more love to the city of New York than this one. Aside from the cover art (which shows Malin at the Delancey Street subway stop), Malin pays a heartfelt tribute to the five boroughs on songs such as "Brooklyn," "Downliner," and "Riding On The Subway." And if Bruce Springsteen has an affinity for this guy (he's got a cameo on Jesse's most recent album), he's just fine in my book.


83) N*E*R*D - In Search Of... (2002)
For the record, N*E*R*D stands for "No One Ever Really Dies." And at the rate that Pharell Williams has been going, this may very well be a self-fulfilling prophecy. Aside from being one of the most prolific (and successful) producers of the past decade (his resume includes hits for Madonna, Kanye West, Gwen Stefani, and Jay-Z) , Pharell has made some pretty solid records with his experimental band, which includes fellow Neptune Chad Hugo. I can't think of anyone else who has successfully melded rock with hip-hop as well as this guy. At its core, In Search Of... is front-loaded with some of the best party songs of the past decade (see "Rock Star," "Provider," and "Lap Dance"), a lesson every frat DJ should be well-versed in.


82) Wilco - A Ghost Is Born (2004)
It's very difficult for a band to make a great record after creating a masterpiece. So was the case for Wilco and A Ghost Is Born, an excellent follow-up to the opus that was Yankee Hotel Foxtrot. Considering Jeff Tweedy's altered state of mind while recording this album (he entered a rehab clinic shortly after its release), this is one hell of a piece of work. Although at times a bit uneven, anyone who knows anything about music cannot deny Tweedy's ability to pen a great tune on Ghost.


81) Cat Power - The Greatest (2006)
Anyone who pretentiously names a new album The Greatest better be pretty damn sure of it. But, you know what, I'll give it to Cat Power (the pen name of Chan Marshall) because she really scores a knockout on her first record of completely original material. Marshall's sultry voice is not easy to resist on most of the The Greatest's many highlights, which include the short-but-sweet "Islands," and the piano-laden beauty that is the title-track. The dreaminess of this album is reminicent of Mazzy Star, which is never a bad thing.